Faculty member gives input on California Chrome's nasal strip

Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical
Sciences Dr. Elizabeth Santschi was interviewed by NBC4 concerning the
nasal strip worn by the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes’ winning
horse: California Chrome. The strip allows a horse to breathe more freely while
it races Santschi said, which caused controversy over whether or not
Chrome would be permitted to wear it in future races.

Officials eventually decided to approve the use of California
Chrome’s nasal strip at the Belmont Stakes on June 7. If Chrome wins the Belmont Stakes, he will
receive the rare Triple
Crown of Thoroughbred Racing: a title that hasn’t been given out since
1978.

“There is some experimental evidence that suggests the strip
reduces the amount of work the horse has to do to get air,” Santschi said. “But
there’s no evidence that it is either performance enhancing, or that it’s going
to take a normal horse and turn it into a super horse.”